The Soccer Show: Revs Legend Matt Reis Remembers the 2013 Boston Marathon
Former Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis will always feel a special connection to Boston for much more than his 11 seasons in a Revs uniform from 2003-13. Ten years ago, Reis’ life and the city of Boston would be changed forever by the tragic events on Boylston Street at the 2013 Boston Marathon. The legendary goalkeeper joined DJ Bean on The Soccer Show to share his recollections of that day 10 years ago.
Reis’ wife, Nicole, was running the Boston Marathon in 2013. Standing at the finish line, Reis, his children, and his in-laws were waiting for Nicole to cross the line, when the first bomb went off. Reis, knowing he could help, chose to run toward the danger where he found his father-in-law, John Odom, with two severed arteries in his legs. Using his belt as a tourniquet, Reis was able to stop the bleeding and eventually save Odom’s life.
“It’s an amazing story. Ours has a silver lining and a happy ending. There are quite a few people that didn’t have that great of an ending. It was a tragic day,” said Reis, who was named the 2013 MLS Humanitarian of the Year. “Fortunately for me, I was able to act in a way and went back toward the danger and unbeknownst to me, my father-in-law had been hit with a piece of shrapnel from the first bomb and the belt that I had on that day saved his life.”
There are several heroic stories of those running back toward the bombings to help those in need. Reis credited his experience as a goalkeeper and what that taught him about quick decision-making that called him to action on that day.
“For me, once I had the realization of what it was, I handed my son to my brother-in-law and I said, ‘I’m going to go check on your dad’ and not knowing that he was the one that was injured and not knowing the severity of it, but I knew from my experience that I probably could help and didn’t know to what extent, but wanted to help and wanted to be there in a time of need.
“You saw it from numerous people. Strangers helping strangers, people coming out of their houses, helping the runners that had been stopped, unbeknownst to them what happened, giving them food and blankets to stay warm, and just all the outpouring of love and humanity. It’s like Papi said, it’s Boston. You don’t mess with that.”
For Reis and his family, Marathon Monday is always a day of reflection in their household. The biggest lesson learned is one of gratitude for life and for the experiences his children and wife have been able to have with their father and grandfather over the last 10 years.
“My boys having 10 more years with their grandfather, my wife being able to see her father still is just great, and we don’t take it lightly. We try to live every day like it’s your last, because it very well could be.”